Sex, Love, Intimacy, & that Book Kama Sutra (Yes it's a religious HINDU scripture)
Ancient Hindu society before the influences of western Faiths, Puritanism, and Colonizations was very free-thinking and progressive. The western world has managed to dumb down ancient texts such as the Kama Sutra to just a “sex position manual”, brand Eastern religions/faiths as vulgar/obscene, and this needs to stop. I had the honor of presenting at the Museum of Sex in NYC about Hinduism, Love, and the Kama Sutra.
Interconnectedness, Hate, Love, & Ahimsa (Non Violence)
As a lifelong practicing Hindu who adheres to the principle of Ahimsa, which means “nonviolence” meaning not to harm any living creature with your words, thoughts, or physically.
it boggles my mind that the 3 great Abrahamic faiths of the world Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in relative peace and unity, and gave the world beautiful art, architecture, and an interconnected culture before someone drank CUCKOO juice, and decided to fill their minds/hearts/brains/souls with hatred and expelled Jews and Muslims, which led to the bloody Spanish inquisition of 1492!
These are my reflections of the interconnectedness, unity, inspiration, and beauty, I saw through religion, faith, culture, and art.
Brooklyn Museum Popup - My Customers are so DIVERSE! Grateful!
The world says “to define my customer base” Well I find that really difficult for me! My customers that day included Japanese Grandmas, Latino Boys, Young African American Gay Men, Hipsters, Hindu folks, Muslim folks, Arab families, Turkish families, and many more! My work appeals to a wide range of races, nationalities, ages, demographics, etc. I believe that art and design are the way to bring together diverse communities.
#blacklivesmatter. One World. Be the Change.
All FAITHS (symbols of every major faith). ONE WORLD. WE Together stand against racism!
Eid Mubarak! Eid Ambarki Ighudan!
Ramadan concludes with morning Eid Prayers outside in Washington Square Park which is so special and absolute magic. Though I’m the Hindu Chaplain for NYU, my brothers have always included me in Eid prayers, I have celebrated with the Islamic Center any times.
Maha Shivaratri : Lord Shiva & Arabic
God Sees all, even if you can't see him, he sees you!
Ramadan Mubarak! : in 5 Languages
Here is my Ramadan Artwork/Design! Written in 5 Different languages : Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit (language of my faith Hinduism), Tamil (language I speak with my family) & Tamazight (language of the Amazigh people of North Africa)
Ram Navami (Hindu Holiday) : in Arabic Language
Rama in Sanskrit means "one who gives joy to others/divinely blissful / the noble one"
Karim in Arabic means "generous/noble, one of the 99 names of Allah"
Nowruz/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! : Persian New Year
NOWRUZ/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! Inspired by pop art, fashion, and "modern" Persian calligraphers
Ali Akbar Khan + Goddess Saraswati + Shiva Vishnu Temple = Bay Area, California
All Indian Classical Music and Dance traditions are rooted in worship and are ways to connect to the divine. The father of Hindustani music was a Muslim, the 13th C Sufi poet/musician/scholar Amir Khusrow. The father of Carnatic music was a Hindu, the 16th C saint/poet Purandara Dasa.
Urdu Calligraphy + Emojis & Imam Khalid Latif = Friendship
Hindus & Muslims
ARE NOT THAT DIFFERENT!
A Moroccan Love Story : Amazigh Culture & Tamazight Language
I discovered/fell in love with the Amazigh people, culture, language (Tamazight). Please don’t call them Berbers!